Compliments always make me feel a bit out of my comfort zone – someone has said something nice about me that I wasn’t expecting and although it makes me squirm a little, it’s in a good way. I am chuffed that person took the time to share that thought with me.

Would you agree with that statement? How do you feel when you are on the receiving end of a compliment?

I also like to give compliments especially to my friends and family or my work colleagues. I think a compliment can really help you, it’s like a turbo boost to your morale and on a bad day it can be all you need to get you through.

YOU, dear reader, are the kindest, nicest person I could wish to have here on my little old blog, thank you for passing by. — Marianne Weekes

Why are compliments good for us?

There have been studies into the effect of giving and receiving compliments. Researchers have found that to the brain, receiving a compliment is as much as a social reward as being given money.

In fact, focusing on and noticing the good qualities in the world around us gives our moods a boost all by itself.

Create your own happy

Do you know where I found that information? In an awesome book called Create your own happy. Written by Penny Alexander and Becky Goddard-Hill and Illustrated by Clare Forrest.

The book has been written for children aged 7 – 11 and is full of activities that help them to learn to be happy no matter what is going on around you. They teach you to be resilient, positive and optimistic, three qualities that are sure to help everyone in life.

The activities are designed to boost happiness and emotional wellbeing with information on why each activity is worthwhile and how it can help change your mood.

The book is split into three parts, Part One is about making yourself happy, Part Two is about making others happy – like giving out compliments and Part Three is about making a happier world which would benefit us all.

Create your own happy teaches kids that they are in control of a huge part of their own happiness, it also reminds them that if they are happy then it’s so much easier to make other people happy.

Happiness fact

Did you know that happiness is made up of?

50% genes and upbringing
10% life circumstances beyond you, (money, where you live)40% of things you can control yourself (attitude, relationships, hobbies and activities)

The book has a wonderful collection of quotes that are inspiring and great reminders of what is important in life like this one

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, have enough. — Oprah Winfrey (Actress and TV show host)